Hollywood’s new favourite car

THE preferred mode of transport for Hollywood rappers, movie stars and wannabe gangsters has had a major makeover.

The new generation Mercedes G63 AMG has been unveiled before it arrives in showrooms later this year.

It looks almost identical to the 40-year-old original but is new from the ground up.

The big news is under the bonnet and in the cabin.

The 2018 Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG should be a blur. Picture: Supplied.

The new generation G63 is powered by Mercedes' latest twin turbo 4.0-litre V8 (430kW/850Nm for the tech heads) and matched to a nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive.

With a blistering acceleration time of 0 to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds it should be enough to get away from pesky paparazzi.

However the target market for this car will likely be more interested in the upgrade to interior luxury, including a mega-widescreen dash borrowed from the latest Mercedes limousine, and new, softer leather sports seats.

The interior of the new model is a world away from the original military vehicle. Picture: Supplied.

The G Class was originally built as a military vehicle in the late 1970s but has become increasingly popular with the Hollywood elite and over the past decade.

Celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner and Justin Bieber have been photographed with Mercedes G Class SUVs in recent years.

It's unclear what attracts stars to what was, until this new generation, a basic military design heavy duty 4WD, with plush seats inside.

It's also unclear how many people will upgrade to the new model, given it's almost impossible to distinguish the differences between the two.

It may be completely new but here are the main differences: twin turbo V8 and LED headlights. Picture: Supplied.

Every panel looks identical, but they are in fact all new. Clue: the LED headlights are the main giveaway.

If the new one proves even half as popular as the original, Mercedes will be laughing all the way to the bank.

The price of the new Mercedes G63 AMG is expected to start from $235,000 when it goes on sale later this year.

All you need to know: old school exhaust outlets and tyres with “F1” on the sidewalls. Picture: Supplied.